HPV Vaccination Rates Are Still Incredibly Low

A new report shows that the vaccine's rate is far below others.

In a new report, the CDC says that HPV vaccination rates need major improvement.

According to the report, only 57 percent of girls and 37 percent of boys received the vaccination by their 13th birthday. The low statistics stem from parents' lack of knowledge of the vaccine, as well as doctors' failure to recommend it.

The HPV vaccine protects against human papillomavirus, an STD that can lead to various forms of cancer, the most common being cervical cancer, but parents are hesitant to accept this vaccine, mostly due to concerns about the shot's side effects, even though they allow their children to receive other vaccinations. Other reasons included doctors not recommending it or that their children were not sexually active.

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The report says that HPV vaccination rate for girls would be as high as 91 percent if they received the HPV shot along with other vaccinations during routine doctor visits.

To increase vaccination rates, the CDC says it will stress the importance of the shot to increase recommendations from doctors and will better address questions from parents.